Grain-binder



(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. GOODYEAR. GRAIN BINDER.

No. 496,647. Patented May 2, 1893.

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is mans m motoun ou wAsumGTnN o c (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. GOODYEAR.

GRAIN BINDER Patented May 2, 1893.

(N0 Mddel.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 3. v

A. GOODYEAR.

GRAIN BINDER.- No. 496,647. Patented May 2, 1893.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4. A. GOODYEAR.

GRAIN BINDER. 1

Patented May 2, 1893;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT GOODYEAR, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,647, dated May 2, 1893. I

Application filed August 24, 1892. Serial No. 443,947. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT GOODYEAR, of New Haven,in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grain-Binders, of which the following is a the ends of the cord when being twisted were held by cam dogs which did not afiord so secure a fastening as desirable.

In my present construction, I employ two reciprocating clamps which are operated positively so as to compress each end of the cord as tightly as may be desired to hold it. These clamps are operated at different times so that one of them catches and holds each end of the cord as it is presented.

In order to properly present the ends of the cord to the clamps, a disk revolving with the twister is provided with a notch to co-operate with each finger of the twister. Each twister finger moves somewhat in advance of its cooperating notch so that the cord when drawn between the apex of the notch and base of the finger lies diagonally in front of the clamp which occupies a position intermediate the notch and finger. which the clamp is retracted advances the cord in one direction so that it does not strike against the end of the clamp; and a pusher or abutment, relatively to which the disk and twister move, advances the cord laterally in front of the clamp. The shaft carrying the twister and disk is hollow to admit of the passage of the connections between the clamps and the mechanism by which they are reciprocated. The twister is inverted; that is to say, it is mounted upon the lower end of its shaft instead of upon the upper end thereof, as shown in said Patent No. 374,595. Correspondingly, the needle moves upward instead of downward. Thus, the knotting mechanism is above the bundle of grain. The twister is timed to start the twisting of the cord before the bundle compressing devices have released their pressure. The'width of the grain platform is adjustedto guide the grain into posi- A rim on the disk behind tion to receive the binding twine around its central portion. The frame carrying the knot forming mechanism is composed of piping which may be made of wrought iron so as to secure great strength with lightness.

The binding mechanism is so compacted and constructed as to be capable of being put on almost any reaper that is made.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of that portion of a'harvesting machine which contains my improvements. Fig. 2 isa side elevation in section of the same. Fig.3 isan elevation partly in section taken transversely of the machine and showing the knot forming mechanism. Fig.4 is a section through the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan through line x 01:, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan through the line .2 2, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a side view partly in section, showing in dotted lines the position of the twine and needle in its uppermost position. side view showing the twine surrounding the bundle as partially twisted and as cut loose from the main supply of the cord, the end of which is held by the holding dogs. Fig. 9 is a side view of certain parts looking in the di-- Figs. 10 and rection of the arrow v, Fig. 1.

Fig.8isa' 11 are sectional plans through the line ao'm',

Fig. 4, and showing certain parts in different positions.

Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are details.

A is the platform upon which the. grain is delivered by the harvesting machine to be ing upward. V I

B B are movabl'eguides hinged to the side portion of the platform and capable of being adjusted for use when rye or short grain has to be cut and bound. These guides serve to direct the grain toward thebinding mechanism in such manner that the central portion thereof will be presented to receive the wrap of the binding twine. The guides may be socured in position by means of pins b inserted in holes in the platform.

C is a feeding device deriving motion from the ground wheel D through suitable gearing. This device is of the usual form heretofore in use, and consists, preferably, of two or more disks 0 having teeth 0' mounted on each, one of which is shown in Fig. 2. These-teeth catch the grain as soon as it is discharged by the elevator aprons c and convey it forward so that the aprons are prevented from being clogged or getting the straw out of position.

E is a shaft which is driven from the ground wheel D of the harvester, and which serves to give motion to mechanisms connected with the platform A, and also to the needle, which is lettered F, and also to the twisting and other mechanism mounted upon the shaft G, which latter shaft is the main shaft of the binding apparatus.

After the grain has been delivered on the platform A by the feeding device 0, it is forced forward toward the binding mechanism by two ordinary rocking arms e e each connected at one end to a link a pivotally secured to portions 0. of the framework. These arms are vibrated by cranks e formed in the shaft E. As the grain is forced forward, it is held down bya plate P converging toward the platform A, which plate is provided with a slot 19 for the passage of the needle. This plate may be secured to the bar n and to the frame M of the twisting mechanism. As the grain is forced forward by the feeding devices 0 and e chitencounters the binding cord Z stretched between the point of the needle F and the twisting mechanism and pushes the cord before it drawing sufficient slack for that purpose from the bobbin L through the eye of the needle so that when the grain has advanced far enough for the needle to operate, the grain which is to constitute a bundle will be about half surrounded by the loop of cord carried before it. The next obstruction met by the grain is the arm h which upon being pressed forward by the grain serves, through mechanism hereinaftermore particularlydescribed, to set in motion the needle and the twisting and tucking mechanism. The next obstruction met by the grain is an arm I of which there may be two or more and which serve to support the bundle ofgrain while beingbound, but which are together with the platform-section a, rocked downwardly when the binding mechanism has completed its movements so as to eject the bundle from the machine.

The binding mechanism inclusive of the needle, the twisting and the tucking mechanisms are supported upon a frame which consistsof the horizontal pipes n and n coupled to the pipe at by the T-couplings 01. The shaft f passes longitudinally through the pipe n in which it has its bearings and actuates the needle F. The shaft G passes longitudinally through the pipe n in which it has its bearings and actuates the mechanisms for twisting, tucking and ejecting. The pipes n and n are so disposed that the pipe n is inclined at an angle, as shown. The overhanging end of the pipe n is braced by a brace 07. extending from it to the cross bar a, which latter in turn is secured to a bar 01" and to a side portion of the platform. The overhanging end of the pipe 01 is steadied by passing through one of the ribs a ofv the platform.

The arm It acts as a trigger to permit the movement of the shaft f which actuates the needle, and of the shaft G, which actuates the twisting, tucking and ejecting mechanisms, and I will now describe the connections'by which this is accomplished.

As the grain is forced forward, it will bear against the arm h loosely mounted on a stud h and connected by a chain h to a lever k affixed to a rock shaft h. The opposite end of this rock shaft has an arm 71. arranged to rest against an arm 71. mounted on rock shaft f. This arm 72., serves to hold a dog 77. out of engagement with lugs e which extend from a collar 6 affixed t0 the shaft E and in constant motion with the latter. The dog 71 as shown in Fig. 9, is pivotally connected to a gear wheel 6 loosely mounted on the shaft E. When this dog k is in engagement withthe arm h, it will be held in the position shown in Fig. 9 so that it will not engage with the lugs 6 but whenever the arm 72. is tripped, so as to release the dog the pressure of the spring 7:. will turn the dog sufficiently on its pivot to bring a projection 77, on its tail in the path of the lugs e so that the first lug that comes along will strike against the projection on the tail of the dog and impart motion to the gear wheel 6 which continues until the dog again engages with the arm 71. and is thereby returned to the position shown in Fig. 9. Motion will be imparted to the shaft G through the train of gear wheels e e c and g at such times when the dog k and a lug e are in engagement. The needle F is carried by an arm f affixed to a brace f of the needle and which arm is secured to the rock shaft f extending through and journaled at the ends of pipe n secured to the brace portions a a of the framework. This shaft f is provided with a crank f connected by a pitman to a stud f affixed to the gear wheel g whereby motion is imparted to the needle. When sufficient grain to form a bundle has accumulated against the arm h, the latter will yield and, trip the dog It thereby setting the shafts G and f in operation. A complete revolution will then be imparted to the gear wheel 9 and shaft G and during this time a rocking motion will be imparted to the shaft f sufficient to raise the needle F to a position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 and back to its normal position shown in Fig. 2. When this latter position is reached by the needle, the arm It will have returned to a position to meet and stop the further rotary movement of the dog 71, thereby disengaging it from the lugs 6 p is a bracket affixed to the pipe n at one end and to the brace a of the platform at its opposite end and serves to support studs on which the gear wheels e e are mounted.

The twine Z to be used for binding should be tarred and is wound upon a reel L passing thence around certain rollers and guides, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, and through the eye of the needle. 1 Its free end is, when the operation of binding commences, held by the g is a divided shaft composed of two semi cylindrical portions 9 g each provided with a clamping arm,respectively g 9 and a flange,'

respectively g 9 These flanges engage in cam grooves g g formed in the face of the gear wheel 9 by which an up and down motion is imparted to the half shafts g 9 independently of each other, during a revolution of the gear wheel 9 g is a hollow shaft within which the divided shaft 9 extends and its two halves g and g reciprocate. This hollow shaft is slotted between the twister Q and disk T and the clamping arms g g extend radially in opposite directions through these slots. Therefore, though the divisions g and 9 may reciprocate through the distance between the twister Q and disk T they are compelled to turn with the hollow shaft g and these clamping arms g' 'g are always kept opposite their respective grooves in the top of the twister. The hollow shaft 9 has abearing at one end in the armm of the frame M and another bearing immediately above the disk T in the plate 'm of the frame against which it has a collar 9 It is rotated at proper intervals by the'gear wheel g which is fixed on it. The disk T is fixed on the hollow shaft g immediately below the stationary plate m The disk T contains a hub t containing a set screw t by which it is fixed to the hollow shaft g". The hub t is slotted on opposite sides to receive the clamping arms g 9 It is also notched at t and 25 from its periphery inward. The forms of these notches are clearly shown in the drawings. They are so arranged that the finger q of the twister will be somewhat in advance of the notch 25 (the clamp g lying between them) and the finger g of -the twister will be somewhat in advance of the notch 15 (the clamp g lying between them). The fingers of the twister extend out radially beyond the disk and on the periphcry of the disk above each finger is a down wardly extending flange or rim t which isintercepted by the notches. The knife't extends from a fixed support under the flange t and its edge forms a shearing edge with the edge of notch 6 Its inner end preferably extends into an annular groove 25 ofthe hub tto prevent it from springing. The notch i is backwardly inclined and its'apex t is the same distance from the center 'of' rotation as the acting face of the holding dog so that when the cord is carried forward in the apex t the part extending above the disk Twill be carried into engagement with the dog. This is no sooner done than the part of the cord extending below the disk T encounters-the knife 25 and is shorn off. Thus the cord-will be cut in-two. The part below the disk will be held by the dog and the part above the disk will be held by the clamp g and the twister I will now describe how the ends 'of the cord are placed in position to be clamped by the clamps g and 9 the operation for both being substantially the same. The twisterQ is fixed upon the extremity of the shaft 9".

m is a plateofthe frame M which contains a circular opening concentric with the shaft 9 and of slightly greater diameter than the clamping arms 9 9 though of slightly less diameter than the disk Tor twisterQ; so that this stationary plate m intrudes somewhat between the disk and twister and surrounds the clamping arms excepting at one side:

where the plate is cutaway to admit the binding cord. At one side of the opening the wire on projects in the plane of the plate to guide the cord into the opening and at the point where this wire is connected with the plate, a

lug m which acts as" an abutment or pusher projects upwardly overlapping the inside of the flanges t of the disk. m is another abutment or pusher connected with the frame on the opposite side of the disk T. As the disk T moves between m below and m above they serve to push the cord along the rim 1? toward the notch in the disk. Thus while the rim i holds the cord below the clamp 9 the two pushers or abutments hold it from being carried forward with the flange until the clamp has moved over it and it lies between the clamp and the twister. Then the clamp advances and secures it. The gear wheel 9 has, on one side, a collar 9 resting against the arm m of the frame M and having two flat parallel side portions 9 9 Fig. 3 to engage with a flat rim g of the gear wheel 9 when the teeth of the latter are not in engagement with the gear wheel 9 thereby preventing rotary motion of the latter at such times. In plan view the twister Q is seen to have two hook portions g g broadening inwardly toward the notched portions g (1 adjacent to the central portion thereof. 1 g are grooves extending across the face of the twister in which the clamping arms 9 g are caused to enter by the cam grooves g 9 Being thus formedyany cord that iscaught by either hook g will be carried toward the center'to the bottom of the notched portions g g and acros's'the grooves g or g in one of which it will be secured by the clamping arm timed to enter the groove when a cord has thus been carried across the same. of the cord is held by the dogs Z. When the needle hasascended about two thirds so'as to have passed through the grain the twister starts and the'first twister hook' q."

which comes along as it revolves catches the cord, as shown in full lines in Fig. '7, and it carries it toward the center of the twister until the end of the cord is caught in the As the needle ascends the free end:

groove (1 where it is firmly held by the clamp twister has revolved farenough (one half rev' olution) to accomplish the above result it stops and remains at rest until the needle has as cended nearly to the top of the stroke and has f given the cord a wrap around the bundle and i brought it into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 when it is in the path of the twister hooks and lies against the rim 2?. The

parts are now ready for the twister to resume its revolution and as it does so the twister finger g catches the cord which has been brought upward by the needle and it is carried toward the center and across the groove (1 where it is held by the clamping arm 9 being cut loose from the needle cord by the knife t and the end of the-needle cord being held by thedog as already described ready for the next bundle. Wehave now reached a stage where both ends of the loop of cord around the grain are held by the twister; one end being held by the clam pin garm g and the other bythe clamping arm 9 The continued rotation of the twister now twists the two ends of the cord surround-ing the grain together;

the twists being made in such direction as to untwist the twine while it twists the two ends together having the effect of incorporating the two ends of the cord into practically one cord which will have no tendency to untwist. As the twisting proceeds the bundle is tightly compressed and before the compression is released the ends will have been twisted enough to prevent any slackening of the cord upon the release of the compression. This compression is accomplished between the needle arm f and the arm or arms I. The two'ends of .the cord will be twisted together about two and one-half times as the needle is finishing its upward stroke, and therefore as the compression is still on. the increase, the two ends will be twisted together about one and onehalf times more as the needle is commencing its downward stroke. The arm I must hold the bundle in position While the twisted ends are being tucked and yet must move out of its way while the needle is on the latter part of its downward stroke, so that the tucking is accomplished by the time the needle has made about one-half of its downward stroke.

The next operation to be provided for is to clamp the twisted ends of the twine close up to the brindle, while the ends are tucked under the cord encircling the bundle. The mechanism for doing this may be similar in construction and operation to that described in Letters Patent No. 374,595 referred to.

R is a fingerthatreciprocates in guides and is actuated by means of the lever 'r' and cam disk '1" secured to the shaft G. The form of this cam is such as to advance the finger R asthe needle recedes from its uppermost position so that the cord will be caught by the finger R and held as. shown in Fig. 8, until the needle has nearly reached its normal position when the finger retreats and releases the cord, which affords sufficieut slack to enable the needle to proceed to its lowermost position without further strain upon the dog. By-this arrangement it will be observed that the strain upon the dogs for the purpose of paying out the cord when the needle moves downwardly takes place on a direct line with the face of the dog under which circumstances they hold most securely.

I, Fig. 2, is an arm of which there may be two, having the tripping arm h arranged between them, and each mounted to rock on the stud h. These arms I serve to support the bundle of grain while being bound and are connected by alink t' to an arm t" affixed to a rock shaft 2' which has another arm 1' affixed to its extremity. t is a rod connected to the arm '6 and fitted to slide in a loop 2' between which and a head portion 2', a coil spring i is interposed. The loop '5 has a rod 2' extending therefrom and pivoted to a bent lever i fulcrumed at t to pipe at and provided with an anti-friction roller ri engaging in a cam groove i formed on one side of the gear wheel K is a link connecting the arm 01 to the movable section a of the platform. By this construction the cam 2' will, at the proper time, cause the arm I together with the arm 77. and platform section a to rock downwardly to permit a bundle to pass from the platform after being bound and again elevate these parts to their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 2, after the bundle has passed.

S S are arms secured to the shaft G and arranged to come into contact with the bundle of grain after the knot forming operation has been completed and force the bundle olf the platform.

I'claim 1. In combination, the twister, the hollow shaft upon which the twister is mounted, the

clamps cooperating with the twister, a rod connected with each clamp and extending through the hollow shaft and mechanism whereby said rods are reciprocated, alternately, substantially as described.

2. In a binding machine in combination, a twister, clamps cooperating with the twister, a holding device, a disk arranged between the holding device and the clamps; said twister being provided with projecting fingers and said disk being provided with notches in the rear of said fingers and each clamp being arranged in the rear of one of the fingers but in advance of its cooperating notch whereby as the cord is drawn between the finger and the notch it will lie across the clamp, substantially as described.

3. In a binding machine in combination, a twister, clamps cooperating with the twister, a holding device, a disk arranged between the holding device and the clamps; said twister said disk being provided with notches in the rear of said fingers and each clamp being ar ranged in the reafof one of the fingers but in advance of its cooperating notch whereby as the cord is drawn between the finger and the notch it will lie across the clamp; and said disk being provided with a flange whereby the cord is held forward of the clamp until it is carried over the same by the advance of the twister finger and a pusher whereby as the twister finger advances the cord is shoved onto th clamp, substantially as described.

4. In a binding machine in combination, a twister clamps co-operating with the twister, a holding device, a disk arranged between the holding device and the clamps; said twister being provided with projecting fingers and said disk being provided with notches in the rear of said fingers and each clamp being arranged in the rear of one of the fingers but in advance of its cooperating notch whereby as the cord is drawn between the finger and the notch it will lie across the clamp; and said disk being provided with a flange whereby the 'cord is held forward of the clamp until it is carried over the same by the advance of the twister finger, substantially. as described. I

'5. In a binding machine in combination, a twister containing two fingers, a disk containing two notches to cooperate with said fingers, a needle whereby the cord is presented to said fingers successively, two clamps and mechanism whereby said clamps are operated successively as the cord is caught by said fingers, substantially as described.

6. In a binding machine in combination, a twister, clamps co-operating with thetwister,

a holding device, a disk arranged between the holding device and the clamps; said twister being provided with projecting fingers and said disk being provided with notches in the rear of said fingers and each clamp being arranged in the rear one of said fingers but in the advance of its co -operating notch and a member upon said disk behind which the clamp retreats whereby the cord is advanced in front of said clamp, substantially as described. r

7. In a binding machine, in combination, a

, twister, clamps co-operatingwith the twister,

a holding device, a disk arranged between the holding device and the clamps; said twister being provided with projecting fingers and said disk being provided with notches in the rear of said fingers and each clamp being arranged in the rear of one of saidfingers but in advance of its cooperating notch and a member upon said disk behind which the clamp retreats whereby the cord is advanced in front of said clamp and a pusher relatively to which said disk moves whereby the cord is advanced laterally with respect to said clamp, substantially as described.

8; In a binding machine in ,combinatioma twister, clamps cooperating withcthe twister, a holding device, a disk arranged between the holding device and the clamps; said twister being provided with projecting fingers and said disk being provided with'notches in the rear of said fingers and each clamp being arranged in the rear of one of said fingers but in advance of its co-operating notch and a member upon said disk behind which the 

